Power over network device and power over network system including the same

ABSTRACT

A connecting module included in a power over network device includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. The power over network device is to be connected to one of a power source equipment (PSE) and a powered device (PD). When connected to the PSE, the capacitors receive a network signal, the power transformer receives the network signal and a direct current power signal for generating a power line signal. When connected to the PD, the power transformer receives the power line signal, extracts a direct current power signal from the power line signal, and the capacitors of the connecting module receives the network signal, and blocks a direct current component of the remainder of the power line signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/329,116 filed on Jul. 11, 2014, which claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102145173, filed on Dec. 9, 2013; this application also claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 105201016, filed on Jan. 22, 2016; the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a power over network device and a power over network system including the power over network device.

BACKGROUND

In a power over Ethernet (PoE) network, electrical power may be transmitted along with data on a single cable. For example, by using a cable with a register jack (RJ) 45 connector to interconnect a power source equipment (e.g., a network switch) and a powered device (e.g., a wireless router, a webcam, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, etc.), the power source equipment is able to transmit data and power simultaneously to the powered device through the cable. The PoE network allows the powered device to operate without having to be connected electrically to a separate power source (e.g., a household power outlet, a battery, etc.).

A conventional Ethernet transformer is typically installed in the power source equipment for handling transmission of data and power. As various powered devices are configured to incorporate more functionalities, power consumption of the various powered devices is accordingly increased. As a result, the power source equipments are required to be able to transmit a larger amount of power. In order to meet the larger power requirement, an iron core of the Ethernet transformer may be made larger in size, and copper coils with larger diameters may be adopted for winding.

SUMMARY

An object of the disclosure is to provide a power over network device that can enable transmission of a larger amount of power by the conventional Ethernet transformer without greatly increasing the size of the conventional Ethernet transformer.

According to the disclosure, the power over network device includes at least one connecting module. The connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors.

The power over network device is operable to be electrically connected to one of a power source equipment and a powered device.

When the power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, the capacitors of the connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and the power transformer of the connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device.

When the power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, the power transformer of the connecting module is disposed to receive a power line signal from the power source equipment, and to extract a direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serve as a network signal, and the capacitors of the connecting module are disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide a power over network system that employs the abovementioned power over network device.

According to the disclosure, the power over network system is for use with a power source equipment and a powered device, and the power over network system includes a first power over network device and a second power over network device.

The first power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, and includes a transmitting-end connecting module. The transmitting-end connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors.

The second power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, and includes a receiving-end connecting module. The receiving-end connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors.

The capacitors of the transmitting-end connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and the power transformer of the transmitting-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device.

The power transformer of the receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the power line signal from the first power over network device, and to extract the direct current power signal from the power line signal for the power supplier of the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, the capacitors of the receiving-end connecting module being disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a power over network device according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a power over network system according to one embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the power over network system according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of illustrating a first power over network device 1 according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first power over network device 1 is for use in a network system that includes a power source equipment (PSE) 800 and a powered device (PD) 900. The PSE 800 and PD 900 may constitute a power over Ethernet (PoE) network. That is to say, the first power over network device 1 may be electrically connected to one of the PSE 800 and the PD 900.

In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2, a power over network system includes a first power over network device 1 electrically connected to the PSE 800, and a second power over network device 2 electrically connected to the PD 900.

The PSE 800 may be implemented using a network switch, and includes a network signal generator 801 and a power supplier 802. The network signal generator 801 is configured for generating a network signal. The power supplier 802 is configured for generating a direct current (DC) power signal.

The PD 900 may be implemented using a wireless router, a webcam, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, etc., and serves as a load that is electrically coupled to the PSE 800 using a cable with a register jack (RJ) 45 connector (not shown in the drawings), such that the network signal and the DC power signal can be transmitted to the PD 900 via the cable. The PD 900 includes a network signal receiver 901 and a power receiver 902.

The first power over network device 1 includes a housing 11, a first connecting module 12 and a second connecting module 12′ (see FIG. 3, only the first connecting module 12 is shown in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the first connecting module 12 serves as a transmitting-end connecting module of a transmitter circuit, and the second connecting module 12′ serves as receiving-end connecting module of a receiver circuit.

The housing 11, in which the first connecting module 12 and the second connecting module 12′ are disposed, includes a base 111, a circuit board 113, a plurality of connecting pins 114, and a connector seat 115. The base 111 is formed with a containing space 112, and the circuit board 113 is disposed in the containing space 112. Each of the connecting pins 114 extends through the circuit board 113 and the base 111, thereby securing the circuit board 113 to the base 111. The connector seat 115 is disposed on a top surface of the base 111, and is coupled to the circuit board 113 via an electrical wire.

It is noted that the second power over network device 2 has a structure that is similar to that of the first power over network device 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, each of the first connecting module 12 and the second connecting module 12′ includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors.

Specifically, for the first connecting module 12, two capacitors 121 and a power transformer 122 are provided. Each of the capacitors 121 includes a first terminal 123 and a second terminal 124 coupled to the power transformer 122. The second connecting module 12′ has a similar structure and includes two capacitors 121′ and a power transformer 122′.

In use, the first terminal 123 of each of the capacitors 121 of the first connecting module 12 is coupled to the network signal generator 801 for receiving the network signal therefrom. The second terminal 123′ of each of the capacitors 121′ of the second connecting module 12′ is coupled to the network signal generator 801 for transmitting a network signal thereto.

It is noted that for each of the capacitors 121, 121′, the coupling of the first terminal 123 and the second terminal 124 effectively forms a filter that is capable of blocking a DC component of a current signal flowing therebetween. Each of the capacitors 121, 121′ may be configured to have a capacitance of 100 nF±10%, and serves as a high-impedance component in order to ensure that the DC power signal does not flow directly into the network signal generator 801.

The power transformer 122 is coupled to the power supplier 802 to receive the DC power signal therefrom, and is configured to combine the DC power signal from the power supplier 802 and the network signal from the capacitors 121 so as to generate a power line signal. Specifically, for generation of the power line signal, a DC offset voltage of the network signal is changed.

The second power over network device 2 includes a housing (not shown in the drawings), a first connecting module 22 and a second connecting module 22′.

The first connecting module 22 includes two capacitors 221 and a power transformer 222. Each of the capacitors 221 includes a first terminal 223 and a second terminal 224 coupled to the power transformer 222. The second connecting module 22′ has a structure similar to that of the first connecting module 22, and includes two capacitors 221′ and a power transformer 222′. It is noted that, each of the power transformers as described in the disclosure may be implemented using an auto-transformer, or alternatively using other configurations that include an iron core and copper coils.

In this embodiment, the first connecting module 22 serves as a receiving-end connecting module of a receiver circuit, and the second connecting module 22′ serves as transmitting-end connecting module of a transmitter circuit.

The power transformer 222 is coupled to the power receiver 902, and is disposed to receive the power line signal from the first power over network device 1.

Afterward, the power transformer 222 is configured to extract the DC power signal from the power line signal for the power receiver 902 of the PD 900, in order to provide the PD 900 with the power for operation. The remainder of the power line signal after the DC power signal has been extracted, which serves as a network signal, is then fed to the capacitors 221. The capacitors 221 are coupled to the network signal receiver 901, and are configured to block a DC component of the network signal before transmitting the remainder of the network signal to the network signal receiver 901. It is noted that each of the capacitors 221 may be configured to have a capacitance of 100 nF±10%, and serves as a high-impedance component in order to ensure that the DC power signal does not flow directly into the network signal receiver 901.

In brief, the first connecting module 12 of the first power over network device 1 and the first connecting module 22 of the second power over network device 2 cooperatively form a circuit loop that is capable of transmitting the power line signal from the PSE 800 to the PD 900. In this way, the PD 900 may be operable without the need of additional externally coupled power sources such as a battery.

In addition to the aforementioned functionality, the power over network system is further capable of transmitting a power line signal from the PD 900 to the PSE 800.

Specifically, the capacitors 221′ of the second connecting module 22′ are coupled to the network signal receiver 901 to receive a network signal therefrom. The power transformer 222′ is coupled to the power receiver 902, and is configured to receive the DC power signal therefrom and to generate, by combining the network signal and the DC power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the PSE 800.

Referring back to the first power over network device 1, the power transformer 122′ of the second connecting module 12′ receives the power line signal from the power transformer 222′ and is configured to supply the network signal to the capacitors 121′. The capacitors 121′ are configured to block a DC component of the network signal before allowing the remainder of the network signal to flow into the network signal generator 801.

In brief, the second connecting module 22′ of the second power over network device 2 and the second connecting module 12′ of the first power over network device 1 cooperatively form a circuit loop that is capable of transmitting the power line signal from the PD 900 to the PSE 800.

In this configuration, each of the first power over network device 1 and the second power over network device 2 may be removably connected to the PSE 800 and the PD 900 respectively, such that when a power required for operating the PD 900 is increased (e.g., a wireless router is employed to serve as the PD 900), each of the power transformers 122, 122′ may be replaced with ones having a larger size to accommodate the increased power requirement.

In one embodiment, each of the first and second connecting modules 12, 12′, 22 and 22′ may be provided with a surge protector for diverting a power spike (caused by, for example, a lightning strike), in order to protect the first power over network device 1 and the second power over network device 2.

To sum up, in embodiments of the power over network system as described in the disclosure, a pair of capacitors is provided in each of the first and second connecting modules 12, 12′, 22 and 22′ for blocking the DC component of the network signal, and a power transformer is provided in each of the first and second connecting modules 12, 12′, 22 and 22′ for combining the network signal and the DC power signal to generate the power line signal. In such a configuration, the power line signal may be transmitted between the PSE 800 and the PD 900 without employing additional power component for the PD 900 to operate. Moreover, the sizes of the capacitors are relatively smaller than the components that are employed in the conventional power over Ethernet (PoE) network (e.g., an iron core and copper wires), and may allow the housings 11 and 21 to be made smaller to receive the smaller first and second connecting modules 12, 12′, 22 and 22′.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power over network device comprising at least one connecting module, said connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors, wherein said power over network device is operable to be electrically connected to one of a power source equipment and a powered device; wherein when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, said capacitors of said connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and said power transformer of said connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device; and wherein when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, said power transformer of said connecting module is disposed to receive a power line signal from the power source equipment, and to extract a direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, and said capacitors of said connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal.
 2. The power over network device of claim 1, the power source equipment including a network signal generator that generates the network signal, wherein, each of said capacitors in said connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal generator for receiving the network signal therefrom.
 3. The power over network device of claim 1, the power source equipment including a power supplier which generates the direct current power signal, wherein, when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, said power transformer of said connecting module is coupled to the power supplier to receive the direct current power signal, and combines the direct current power signal and the network signal so as to change a direct current offset voltage of the network signal for generation of the power line signal.
 4. The power over network device of claim 1, the powered device including a power receiver, wherein, when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, said power transformer of said connecting module is coupled to the power receiver for providing the direct current power signal that is extracted from the power line signal to the power receiver.
 5. The power over network device of claim 1, the powered device including a network signal receiver, wherein each of the capacitors in said connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal receiver for providing the network signal thereto.
 6. The power over network device of claim 1, wherein said power transformer is an auto-transformer.
 7. A power over network system for use with a power source equipment and a powered device, said power over network system comprising: a first power over network device electrically connected to the power source equipment, said first power over network device including a transmitting-end connecting module, said transmitting-end connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects said capacitors; and a second power over network device electrically connected to the powered device, said second power over network device including a receiving-end connecting module, said receiving-end connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects said capacitors; wherein said capacitors of said transmitting-end connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and said power transformer of said transmitting-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device; and wherein said power transformer of said receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the power line signal from said first power over network device, and to extract the direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, said capacitors of said receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal.
 8. The power over network system of claim 7, the power source equipment including a network signal generator that generates the network signal, wherein, each of said capacitors in said transmitting-end connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal generator for receiving the network signal therefrom.
 9. The power over network system of claim 7, the power source equipment including a power supplier which generates the direct current power signal, wherein, said power transformer of said transmitting-end connecting module is coupled to the power supplier to receive the direct current power signal therefrom, and combines the direct current power signal and the network signal so as to change a direct current offset voltage of the network signal for generation of the power line signal.
 10. The power over network system of claim 7, the powered device including a power receiver, wherein, said power transformer of said receiving-end connecting module is coupled to the power receiver for providing the direct current power signal that is extracted from the power line signal to the power receiver.
 11. The power over network system of claim 7, the powered device including a network signal receiver, wherein each of said capacitors in said receiving-end connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal receiver for providing the network signal thereto.
 12. The power over network system of claim 7, wherein said power transformer included in each of said first power over network device and said second power over network device is an auto-transformer. 